RE: Good slug gun?
I own an H&R Ultra Deluxe in 12 ga and have handled and shot various other slug guns. The H&R is a nice gun for the money, and in my opinion better than a 870 or 500 mossberg for a dedicated slug gun. However I have seen better, especially in fit and finish, feel and being able to shoot different loads well. Most of the H&Rs I have seen don't really shoot any better than an 870 or 500 with a cantilever barrel and a decent scope, as long as you find a load it likes. I have buddies that have both as well as an 11-87 with a cantilever barrel. They can all shoot 2 inch or better groups at 100 yards if you find the ammo they like.
The guns I mentioned though all have better barrels and may be more forgiving of different loads and will possibly shoot the faster slugs better. I have heard very few people with the less expensive guns having good luck with the faster loads. I know mine won't shoot them worth a darn. My H&R has a factory trigger job as well, and while it is nicer than the pump guns, it still isn't as nice as rifle.
To be honest if I had it to over again I think I would have spent the extra money and got the Savage 210 instead. And at this point I would look at getting a 20 ga instead of 12 ga for a fully rifled barrel shooting sabot loads. The ballistics are very similar to that of an inline muzzle loader and from what I have seen they don't seem to be as finicky with ammo as the 12 gauges are. And they will kick less as well in most cases.
For that matter don't rule out a quality inline muzzle loader. After owning both a slug gun (two actually) and an inline I still think my Remington 700 muzzle loader is the better weapon as far as accuracy and range goes. The slug gun is just more convenient to use is all.
And comparing a H&R to a Tarhunt is like comparing a Kia Rio to a hand built Italian sports car. They will both get you where you want to go but there is no choice as to which is better or more desirable if you have the money.
And not that there is anything wrong with the H&R's, remingtons and Mossbergs because there isn't. I have owned all of them. And millions of deer fall victim to them every year, so obviously they work. Its just that the ones I mentioned are slightly better is all. It's up to you if they are worth the money. If money was not an object for me the only pump I would own is a Browning BPS.
My opinions and nothing more.
Paul